EARTH PRIME TIME: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012 PREVIEW

The High Holiday of geekdom is upon us. The publishers have deemed us worthy once a year to give us free books, but more importantly, to get kids reading. Avengers hits the big screen as Free Comic Book Day celebrates an eleventh year!

EARTH PRIME TIME: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012 PREVIEW by clay-fernald

“One does not simply GET INTO comic books.”

Your local comic book store or LCS will likely be decorated with balloons, offer snacks and be slightly more awesome than usual on Saturday. The stores want your business, your kid’s future business and will be offering smiles to all who come in the door.  It won’t be about the money, it will be about the pride shared by our fandom.

Comics and graphic storytelling have been inadvertently promoting literacy for nearly a century.

Today’s great comic artists and writers were inspired by the works that came before them. The next Alan Moore, Frank Miller or Gail Simone might be snatching up the free Donald Duck Family book from “the Hans Christian Andersen of comic books,” Carl Barks, on Saturday.

Donald Duck Family - Carl Barks

You could be like so many of our friends. You used to read comics in the ’90s or ’00s, but you’ve grown out of it. Marvel and DC just weren’t giving you what you wanted and instead of seeking out new stories, you felt jilted and just walked away.

Wednesdays just became hump day, and you took that Spider-Man poster down from your cube wall, replacing it with a “Hang in There” kitty.

Free Comic Book Day is a way to ease back into comics without spending a dime. The stories grew with you, believe it or not, and it’s time you visited the shop. Start with your free copy of Atomic Robo, or enjoy the long awaited relaunch of ’90s armored hero X-O Manowar in the all new Valiant Universe.

Wednesday Warriors, those of us that schedule our week around a visit to the LCS to get the good variant covers before anyone else does (secret revealed!), are also justly honored for our loyalty, nearly 52 shop visits a year and blown out convention budgets by getting some free swag. With “Our Thing” being a rabbit hole of plot details, no-prizes, callbacks to earlier stories and general nerding out, we comic book elite “squee” with delight when we see books like Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy/The Guild flip book or the arguably cooler Star Wars/Serenity flip book.

All for the price of … none!

Buffy / The Guild Flipbook - Free Comic Book Day 2012

Your Saturday plans now include a visit to Hub Comics in Somerville, a tour to the Harvard Square Triangle of awesome (New England Comics, Newbury Comics & Millon Year Picnic), or perhaps a shop closer to your house. Bring the kids, grandma, your mom that loves Buffy and your weird uncle that is down with the underground scene.

Obey the posted limits! Most shops limit the amount of books you can grab. Be respectful and let others enjoy as well.

Snap a ton of pics on twitter and use the #fcbd hash tag to get in on the fun. This is potentially the largest comic book convention in the country — tied together by the love of comics. Did we mention it is free to attend? While at the shop, maybe you’ll finally buy all of those Walking Dead trades you’ve been lusting after.

EARTH PRIME TIME: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012 PREVIEW by clay-fernald

BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE! CHECK OUT LEAGUEPODCAST.COM — BOSTON’S COMIC BOOK AND POP CULTURE PODCAST — “Thinking about Comics since 2009″!

Leedz Edutainment and LeaguePodcast present SPOSE and CAM MEEKINS at the MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS next week! Follow @Mr_Leedz on Twitter for giveaways!

Spose & Cam Meekins May 9 AT MIDDLE EAST

League of Ordinary Gentlemen Podcast Episode #114 — “TNT”
Josh, Clay and Dursin play How Drunk Were You as it relates to the big Boston Comic-Con After-Party.  Plus, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers international box office and Avengers the television show.